Vascular Access (QIA)

The goal of this project is to decrease the Long Term catheter rates in the target facilities by 2% with a optimal goal of less than or equal to a 10% LTC rate in each clinic.

ESRD Networks are tasked by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to support your facility’s goals in providing safe, effective, efficient, patient-centered, timely, and equitable care. Increasing the number of patients receiving dialysis via arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) and reducing long-term catheter (LTC) use for dialysis access is key to providing optimum care for your patients. A dialysis patient is identified as having a LTC when he or she has been dialyzed with a catheter for 90 days or longer, regardless of whether the catheter has been replaced. We want to help you to continue to deliver excellent care to your patients and to meet these important goals. These efforts: Result in improved patient care; Minimize loss of revenue due to hospitalizations related to catheter complications; Help ensure that your facility receives maximum reimbursement through the Quality Incentive Program; Improve your facility’s rating on the Dialysis Facility Compare website. To this end, CMS has set two quality goals for dialysis facilities:

1. Each hemodialysis facility’s LTC rate should be less than or equal to 10%. (Network QIA Focus) 2. Each hemodialysis facility’s AVF rate should be equal to or greater than 68% If your facility has a LTC rate above 10% as of September 2015 you are required to participate in the Network’s Vascular Access Quality Improvement Activity, which runs throughout the year, with an end date for this year’s activity of September of 2016.The requirements for this project are detailed in the Vascular Access Project Guides under each ESRD Network specific area. The Network will support your efforts and follow your progress throughout the project period.